ICC mulls neutral venue for Aus-Pak series

The ICC is trying to convince Pakistan to host Australia at a neutral venue if the one-day series does not go ahead as planned in the strife-torn country.

Written by Press Trust of India

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Melbourne:

The International Cricket Council is trying to convince Pakistan to host Australia at a neutral venue if the one-day series does not go ahead as planned in the strife-torn country.

Though Cricket Australia and the ICC insist that the first preference would be to play in Pakistan, an alternative venue could not be ruled out either.

"The first priority is for any country to play at home, but if that can't happen what we have to do is encourage teams to play cricket," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.

"If that's at a neutral venue then so be it. Let's get teams playing cricket," he was quoted as saying in 'The Australian'.

Kuala Lumpur, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are being touted as the neutral venues for the one-day series.

CA chief executive James Sutherland supported the idea of neutral venues if it was not possible to play in Pakistan.

"We don't have any objections to neutral venues, but we're not anywhere near advanced enough to be making assessments of playing in Pakistan," Sutherland said.

"We haven't played Pakistan for some time because of the postponement of tours and we want to play them. We see it as good preparation leading into the world Twenty20 championship in London (in June).

"We'll do checks on any neutral venues if they come into play, but as far as we're concerned we've got a commitment to play Pakistan in Pakistan and we'll work through that process as we've done in the past," Sutherland said.